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California RCFE rules

Title 22 for California RCFEs, Article by Article

By Sevana Care · Checked against Title 22 on Westlaw on

RCFE rules are in Title 22, Division 6, Chapter 8 of the California Code of Regulations. Chapter 8 is titled "Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly (RCFE)" and has 15 Articles, from § 87100 to § 87795 [1]. Westlaw's copy says: "This database is current through 10/9/26 Register 2026, No. 41." [2]

The 15 Articles of Chapter 8

The groups are ours, sorted by when an owner usually meets each Article. The Article titles and section numbers are Westlaw's. Some of Westlaw's Article lists also hold entries marked "[Renumbered]" and "[Repealed]". Every Westlaw link opens that Article's full list.

Before you open

Every day in the home

When a resident needs more care

When licensing acts

Not written for owners

Note

Some CDSS forms still print old numbers. LIC 9172 cites § 87584 [4], which became § 87459 in 2008 [3].

Rules that change with the size of the home

A few sections set a size line in their own words. The table quotes four of them. Read the threshold in each excerpt, because the wording differs from row to row.

  • Night supervision § 87415(a)

    Fewer than 16
    “In facilities caring for less than sixteen (16) residents, there shall be a qualified person on call on the premises.” [5]
    16 and up
    “In facilities caring for sixteen (16) to one hundred (100) residents at least one employee shall be on duty on the premises, and awake.” [5] Homes of 101 or more have more tiers in § 87415(a)(3) and (4).

  • Menus § 87555(b)(6)

    Fewer than 16
    “Facilities licensed for less than sixteen (16) residents shall maintain a sample menu in their file.” [6]
    16 and up
    “In facilities for sixteen (16) persons or more, menus shall be written at least one week in advance and copies of the menus as served shall be dated and kept on file for at least 30 days.” [6]

  • Staff schedule § 87413(b)

    Fewer than 16
    This subsection names only homes of 16 or more.
    16 and up
    “If the facility is licensed for sixteen (16) persons or more, there shall be a dated weekly employee time schedule displayed conveniently for employee reference.” [7]

  • First aid and medication lead § 87465(j)

    Fewer than 16
    This subsection names only homes of 16 or more.
    16 and up
    “In all facilities licensed for sixteen (16) persons or more, one or more employees shall be designated as having primary responsibility for assuring that each resident receives needed first aid and needed emergency medical services and for assisting residents as needed with self-administration of medications.” [8]
Note

One size line sits below 16. § 87219(d) asks for posted notices of planned activities "In facilities licensed for seven (7) or more persons" [9].

Rules that depend on your residents and your services

One turns on a resident's diagnosis. The other three start when you choose to advertise or offer the care.

When a resident has dementia
“This section applies to the care of residents diagnosed with dementia.” [10]
§ 87705(a)
If you advertise dementia care
“licensees who advertise, promote, or otherwise hold themselves out as providing special care, programming, and/or environments for residents with dementia or related disorders shall meet the following requirements” [11]
§ 87706(a)
If you accept hospice care
“In order to accept or retain terminally ill residents and permit them to receive care from a hospice agency, the licensee shall have obtained a facility hospice care waiver from the Department.” [12]
§ 87632(a)
If you accept restricted health conditions
“The licensee may provide care for residents who have any of the following restricted health conditions” [13] Oxygen, catheter care and diabetes are on its list.
§ 87612(a)

Questions

Is Title 22 the same for an ARF?

No. For ARFs, § 85001 says: “In addition to Section 80001, the following shall apply.” [14][15] RCFE rules are Chapter 8, from § 87100 [1].

Where is the official text?

On Westlaw. Its section pages carry the heading “Barclays Official California Code of Regulations” [2], and Chapter 8 has its own page there [1].

How current is this page?

We checked it against Westlaw on Oct 20, 2026. Westlaw said its copy was “current through 10/9/26 Register 2026, No. 41.” [2]

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Sources

  1. Title 22, Division 6, Chapter 8, Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly (RCFE) (Westlaw)
  2. 22 CCR § 87100, General (Westlaw)
  3. 22 CCR § 87459, Functional Capabilities (Westlaw)
  4. 22 CCR § 87584, Functional Capabilities [Renumbered] (Westlaw)
  5. 22 CCR § 87415, Night Supervision (Westlaw)
  6. 22 CCR § 87555, General Food Service Requirements (Westlaw)
  7. 22 CCR § 87413, Personnel—Operations (Westlaw)
  8. 22 CCR § 87465, Incidental Medical and Dental Care Services (Westlaw)
  9. 22 CCR § 87219, Planned Activities (Westlaw)
  10. 22 CCR § 87705, Care of Persons with Dementia (Westlaw)
  11. 22 CCR § 87706, Advertising Dementia Special Care, Programming, and Environments (Westlaw)
  12. 22 CCR § 87632, Hospice Care Waiver (Westlaw)
  13. 22 CCR § 87612, Restricted Health Conditions (Westlaw)
  14. 22 CCR § 80001, Definitions (Westlaw)
  15. 22 CCR § 85001, Definitions (Westlaw)